2003 Infiniti G35

At last, a rear-drive sports sedan from Infiniti.

Imagine, for a moment, that you're a fly on the wall behind R&T's water cooler. Yes, you might hear a bit of industry gossip, but you'd more likely catch us raving about Nissan's VQ series V-6, the 255-bhp powerplant that makes the Maxima and Infiniti I35 such formidable sedans. With its seductive mix of low-end torque and top-end power, it's a fantastic engine, and our conversations almost always end with "I sure wish they'd put it in a rear-drive car."

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Well, that has finally happened. And the new Infiniti G35 isn't just any rear-drive car; it's a new midsize sports sedan based on Nissan's FM (front midship) platform, the same stout chassis that's the basis for the new Japanese-market Skyline and the upcoming 350Z.

Does this mean the new G35 is a 4-door 350Z? Not really, because facets such as wheelbase and track will likely be different. But it does mean the G35 is based on solid fundamentals, the most notable being that the centerpoint of the aluminum-block V-6 is aft of the front-axle line to help give the G35 a near-ideal 52/48 weight distribution. Also in the G35's favor: a sleek wind-tunnel-shaped body with a low 0.27 coefficient of drag, plus multilink front and rear suspensions that make use of lots of aluminum, and a 112.2-in. wheelbase that's nearly 5 in. longer than that of the G35's chief competitor, the BMW 330i sedan. In fact, the new G35 has a longer wheelbase than even the 5 Series BMW, and its overall length of 186.2 in. is within a few inches of both the BMW 5 Series and Lexus GS 300/400.

Clearly, the G35 is a large car, and this can be seen in a back seat that offers significantly more leg room than does the Lexus IS 300. In spite of this size, the G35 weighs only 3335 lb., which is within 50 lb. of the 330i BMW sedan. What's more, with its short overhangs and front wheels moved very far forward, the G35 hints at a Germanic look, heightened by taillights that could almost be taken off an Audi. Audis, however, don't have 16 pinhole LEDs illuminating each taillight, which give the G35 a unique look at night, particularly under braking.

The large-bore 3.5-liter V-6 — with four chain-driven overhead camshafts, a fly-by-wire throttle and infinitely variable timing on the intake side — puts out 260 bhp at 6000 rpm and 260 lb.-ft. of torque at 4800 rpm, accompanied by a pleasant induction growl. That power reaches the rear wheels via a 5-speed automatic transmission that can be shifted manually, a gearbox originally designed to handle the greater torque loads of the V-8-powered Q45.

In December 2001, Infiniti gave R&T a chance to study and drive a pre-production G35 — fitted with an optional Sport Package — at Nissan's Arizona Test Center. The first impressions are favorable. The G35 has a handsome if a bit plain interior, and its trunk is especially large for a rear-drive car because the gas tank is cleverly located below the rear seat, where it straddles the driveshaft. More clever engineering is found in the instrument binnacle, which tilts in conjunction with the three-spoke steering wheel to keep the gauges always properly within the driver's line of sight. On the down side, the amber markings of the illuminated analog gauges and dashtop message center are downright difficult to read, and they virtually disappear in direct sunlight.

Dynamically, however, Infiniti has done its homework. I won't say the G35 feels as nimble as the shorter-wheelbase IS 300 or BMW 330i on the 2-mile handling track, but it is entertainingly quick and unflappable. The suspension damping is superb, and although there's a fair amount of body roll, it's not excessive. Further, the steering feels precise, and the G35 turns into corners without feeling the least bit nose-heavy. With the standard yaw control switched off, the tail responds predictably to drop-throttle techniques that help tighten the cornering line.

In short, the G35 feels like the sports sedan we hoped it would be, and it will only get better when the 6-speed manual transmission becomes available six months after the car goes on sale in March. Prices will range from the high $20,000 range to the mid $30s. And keep your eyes peeled this fall for a coupe version of the G35, plus a yet-to-be-named midsize rear-drive sedan that slots right below the Q45 in Infiniti's growing lineup of cars.